☰Menu

The Mentalist Might Move to Another Network

Are you a fan of Patrick Jane and the gang? If so, you have probably heard the rumors that CBS’s long-running series, The Mentalist, could potentially come to an end after the current sixth season. But fear not. There may be hope for the show even if CBS and its chief Les Moonves decide not to pick it up for another season.

The psychological procedural starring Simon Baker and Robin Tunney may end up being shopped around to other networks by its parent company Warner Brothers. This would occur if CBS does indeed pass on renewing the show before its fall schedule presentation to advertisers next month. The studio has reportedly spoken to both broadcast and cable networks about picking up the drama, which is being pitched as having a fresh new start after its recent story reboot. SPOILER ALERT: Jane finally killed his longtime nemesis Red John after confronting him. The story also jumped ahead two years and developed a new Austin, Texas setting, after being previously based out of Sacramento, Calif. TNT airs past seasons in syndication, so that could be one potential landing spot for the show.

CBS moved the series to Sunday nights for the current season, with viewership down 9 percent. That’s not actually that bad. Some shows that have already been renewed have worse statistics then that including The Good Wife, also on CBS. I am guilty as charged in dropping out of my Mentalist viewing, but I stopped after the fourth season, not the fifth.

Entertainment Weekly spoke with series creator Bruno Heller, who stated that the upcoming season finale is being written as both a series finale, in case the show does indeed end with that episode, and also as a set-up for a seventh season. Genius! “Obviously that’s the goal. Killing off Red John … turned out to be a brilliant idea and it loosened everybody up and gave us fresh legs and blue skies,” said Heller.